The nutraceutical industry is a dynamic entity, offering novel products to consumers looking for health-enhanced food products along with scientific evidence. The nutraceutical industry is continuously evolving, and thus, providing products to consumers in response to the demands and market trends. The nutraceutical industry has a hold on three highly rising segments: functional foods, natural products, and dietary supplements. Dietary fibers are well known to play a role in the prevention as well as treatment of many chronic diseases, and thus, have a positive impact on human health.

Psyllium is a herb and is used throughout the world for its nutraceutical properties. Psyllium is used as a dietary fiber and as a bulk-forming laxative. Dietary fibers from psyllium are largely exploited as food ingredients and pharmacological supplements in order to help in weight control, reduce serum lipid levels, and the regulation of glucose control especially in patients with diabetes. Psyllium is thus becoming popular and is being explored by manufacturers as well as consumers for its benefits.

Growing Demand for Psyllium Due to its Versatile Properties in Multiple Applications

The global market demand for functional foods and nutraceuticals like psyllium is increasing positively day by day. Psyllium is getting popular these days due to its gel-forming nature, and therapeutic and pharmacological value in the treatment of diseases like IDBs, inflammatory bowels, diarrhea, diabetes, ulcerative colitis, and colon cancer. The psyllium market is driven by changing lifestyles, increasing awareness towards healthy diets, and rising demand for herbal remedies in the OTC pharmaceutical sector, as these products provide more benefits and have fewer side effects.

The sedentary lifestyle with the increase in the working population in developed and developing countries is aligned with a rise in the consumption of laxative drugs, thus resulting in the increased demand for psyllium. With the increasing aging population, digestive problems have increasing, which has increased the demand for natural laxatives like psyllium. Psyllium has a large number of industrial applications besides therapeutic uses. Psyllium is used to prevent soil erosion and in landscaping. It is used in the cosmetics industry as a base and for sizing purposes. The food and beverage industry uses psyllium as a stabilizer, binding agent, and to improve texture as well as fiber content. It is also used as a thickener and for moisture retention.

Its viscosity can withstand a wide range change in temperature and pH, thus driving its use in the food processing sector. Psyllium is used in animal feed, especially for horse feed to meet its fiber requirement. The psyllium market may face a restraint from synthetic laxatives which are available widely and at cheap prices. However, due to the rising trend of using natural products over synthetics, and a wide number other health benefits provided, the demand for psyllium in the global market is expected to increase in terms of volume and value during the forecast period.

Psyllium seeds and husk are widely exploited by the nutraceutical an industrial sectors to increase market size. The approach of using psyllium along with other dietary supplements, as well as using psyllium to fortify breakfast cereals has boosted its demand. e-Commerce has opened new opportunities for manufacturers as well as consumers to reap the benefits of the product. The increasing use of psyllium in the animal feed sector, especially in pet feed for its fiber content and laxative properties, can boost demand. The use of psyllium in capsule manufacturing has increased its demand in the pharmaceutical sector. The growing demand has led producers to increase the research and innovation in the production and application of psyllium in various sectors. With the increase in application in various sectors and demand from consumers, the market for psyllium is expected to rise positively during the forecast period.

Global Psyllium Market: A Regional Outlook

India dominates the psyllium market in terms of production and export. USA and Germany are the largest importers of psyllium husk and seeds, respectively. There is a rising demand for psyllium from the U.K., Australia, Denmark France, Japan, Indonesia, Canada, Mexico, Italy, Sweden, Spain, Norway, Korea, Pakistan, and Gulf countries. APAC is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period, being a large producer and having a stronger consumer base. Followed by APAC, North America is expected to top the psyllium market during the forecast period, due to the large working and aging population, as well as a high number of health conscious people, and increased disposable income. Europe is expected to experience a rise in demand, especially for industrial husk powder. Thus, the global market for psyllium is expected to increase positively during the forecast period.

The report is a compilation of first-hand information, qualitative and quantitative assessment by industry analysts, inputs from industry experts and industry participants across the value chain. The report provides in-depth analysis of parent market trends, macro-economic indicators and governing factors along with market attractiveness as per segments. The report also maps the qualitative impact of various market factors on market segments and geographies.